May

Bonn, Germany – The time to take action to stem the destruction of the natural world is now, according to the UN’s Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). But the strong words coming out of the Bonn meeting fall short on the action the world is demanding, says IUCN. …

Access and Benefit Sharing is intrinsically linked to the other two pillars - conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. Delegates in Bonn agreed to continue work on an international regime for this issue. …

Committing to regional cooperation in nature conservation and sustainable development, six governments of South-Eastern Europe signed an agreement to dramatically expand transboundary conservation efforts. …

Costa Rica paid 200 million USD to its farmers to protect ecosystems. In doing so, it saved 460,000 hectares of forests and contributed to the well-being of 8.000 people. Such payments for ecosystem services are one way to reward unrecognised benefits of good ecosystem management. …

May 23, 2008—As part of the US Botanic Garden’s “One Planet—Ours! Sustainability for the 22nd Century” summer exhibition, IUCN’s Species Program and USA Multilateral Office unveiled an exhibit at a media briefing and preview tour. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ exhibit showcases display panels explaining the IUCN Red List and the nutritional and medicinal uses of plants. The exhibit also features live specimens of threatened or endangered plants in the Botanic Garden collection which are tagged with the IUCN Red List. …

Two days after the G8 Environment Ministers Meeting in Kobe, the National Diet of Japan adopted the Basic Act on Biodiversity. The Act formally recognises biodiversity as a challenge all countries must face and one that needs immediate nonpartisan action. …

Bonn, Germany, May 29, 2008 (IUCN) – For the first time in the history of CBD, delegates in Bonn have approved a road map ensuring that gender equality is a mainstream element in the work related to the CBD. …